Family...

So, this weekend my Carter family is coming home!  My Daddy was one of eleven children.  My Uncle Freddie died in the Korean War; my Uncle Everette died of lung cancer; my Uncle H. M. passed away several years ago; and my Aunt Eunice recently passed away - that leaves seven.  My Aunts - Maxine, Catherine, Estelle, Juanita, Geraldine... my Uncle Eddie... and Daddy.  My parents live in the house that my Daddy was raised in.  Every six weeks, all the Carters come "home" and visit for the weekend.  Some people think that's weird, and they ask if we ever get tired of it.  The answer is... No, we don't.  I was very close to my Daddy's family growing up, and I am elated that Ava gets to have that same experience with (most of) them.  She'll still call them by the wrong names sometimes, but they just laugh and answer her anyway.  I am thankful for them.  Every day.

People always ask, "What do ya'll do?"  That question always baffles me.... what do you think we do?  We sit around... talk, eat, drink coffee, eat some more... and we laugh.  A lot.  My Daddy's family has the best sense of humor of any people I have ever met.  All of them.  They have a way of telling you the same story over and over again, but in your mind, every time is like the first time. 

My Daddy is generally a quiet person when he's out and about.  However, it is almost magical to me the way he comes alive when he's around them.  He laughs, and tells jokes - he is extremely quick-witted for those of you that don't know - and he picks on his older sisters like nobodys business.  They're like children again... and they all love it.  =)

Uncle Eddie is the baby.  Since he had his stroke, everyone is even more fussy and protective of him.  What he wants, he gets.  We're all so happy he's alive, if he wants to drink coffee from sun-up to sun-down, then that's just how it's going to be.  It's very endearing, and can even bring tears to MY eyes, and that's not easily achieved.  He can walk now with a cane, but he's got a scooter for longer distances.  Steven made him a little metal "loop" thing that he's going to weld on his scooter that will hold his cane.  His scooter also came with interchangeable color plates.  The red ones are on there now (of course)!  Steven is going to take the silver ones and "Georgia them up" for him. 

Maybe I forgot to mention that we are all die-hard Georgia fans.  If you ever tried to talk during a game, or change the channel (or root for the "other" team)... you would never forget this.  My Aunt Eunice had a saying, and I can't lie... I miss her, a lot, every day... and I'm a little misty-eyed as I type this... "My favorite football team is Georgia... and whoever's playing Florida."  =)

They all have their little quirks, and their own way of doing things, but who doesn't?  That's what makes them special to me.

They'll be here soon... and I can't wait!!  =)  They're excited, too!  After all.... they've got cupcakes waiting on them!! 

I Feel Great... Easter Goodies.. and Dolly Parton! =)

I am amazed every day at how much better I feel!  Wednesday will make three weeks that I have been on Weight Watchers.  I have only lost 11.2 pounds, but I can NOT believe the difference it has made in how I feel.  Maybe it's because I haven't eaten anything fried in 3 weeks... maybe it's because I haven't had any sugar... I don't know, and I don't care, because I like it!  Not only do I physically feel better, but my attitude is better.  I have been in the best mood (minus a sad spell here and there.. for other reasons)!  I know, I know... for those of you that know me... that's a big deal!!  =)  I can't wait until the next weigh-in on Wednesday!  I'm hoping for two pounds... or maybe three... or four!  That reminds me of something Dolly Parton used to say... "I wear a size 6 shoe, but a 7 feels so good, I just go ahead and buy an 8!"  I love Dolly Parton, by the way.  One of my favorites of hers... "I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb.... I also know that I'm not blonde."  Ha!

So, I'm gearing up for Easter goodies this week at the bakery!  I have several cake and cupcake orders, and will have a mixed box if I get enough people to order one.  Let's hope!  =)

Steven and I are probably going to take the girls to a big Easter Egg Hunt over in Valdosta on Saturday... if I get all of my caking done on time!  I think it said they hide 24,000 eggs!  That should be plenty of eggs to drag the sweat out of my two... and once the sweat starts rolling, the party is OVER!  They are, after all, MY kids... =)  We don't thrive in the heat.. not when there are Wiis and Playstation 2's to be played, movies to be watched, and couches and loveseats to be held down.  PRIORITIES!!

However, they did request a trip to the track to ride their bikes... Saturday AND Sunday!  So, of course, off we went... I don't think we were gone an hour... hour and a half TOPS either time, but hey, a little sun is better than no sun, I guess.

Sunday night, I decided a little treat was in order...

So, we made chocolate-covered pretzels and pretzel haystacks!  We used milk chocolate, white chocolate, and every sprinkle we could get our hands on, and it was FUN!!  Then, they ate said pretzels until they both had stomach aches... but hey, what are parents for?  I mean, there were pretzels in there... pretzels are healthy... right??

23 dozen cupcakes... and GREAT NEWS!!

Today is Thursday, and it's the last day of the CRCT for Ava.  Thank goodness.  Not that she's been stressing about it, AT ALL, because she hasn't, but I have... just a tiny bit though.  I'm a worrier, while she.... is obviously not.  She tells me every day that she has done well on the test.  She says she really likes taking the CRCT because they get a snack around question 20.  Is this my child, or what?  Taking a test is a-okay, because, hey - there are snacks involved.  =) 

Thursdays are always big baking days for me, too.  This week, I have 23 cupcake orders.  That's right... that means 23 dozen cupcakes!!  For tomorrow!!  I love what I do.  It's so fun to post the cupcake flavors for that week and see everyone get excited over theirs.  I don't have any cakes this weekend though, so I'll have to see what the family and I can get into.  =)  I'm sure we'll think of something.

Do you want to hear some GREAT NEWS??  Do you want to know the best thing that's happened to me all week?  Oh, that's easy!  As you know, I've been on Weight Watchers for two weeks now, and I weighed for the second time yesterday.  I was expecting three or four pounds... BUT GUESS WHAT???  It was NOT three or four pounds..... it was TEN!!!  That's right...

And I'm so excited, I can't hardly stand it!  That makes my total so far - 11.2 pounds lost!  I am extremely proud of myself.  I mean, I'm proud when a cupcake or cookie recipe comes together, or when I make a cake that I think is really cute... but this is something different.  I have really tried to stick to the plan (not that it's hard to do, AT ALL), and it makes me feel good to know that it's paying off.  My goal right now is 50 pounds.  I may try to lose more when that 50 is gone, but for right now... 11.2 is a great start!!

CRCT? What CRCT?

Sooo.... the youngest child is starting the CRCT today.  Does she care?  Absolutely not.  I got up early this morning and made pancakes, eggs, and sausage for breakfast.  She ate all the pancakes, several bites of the eggs, and two bites of sausage... drank some juice and we hit the road.  The teacher has been practicing with them and preparing them for this test for weeks.  Has Ava mentioned it one time?  Nope.  The Satilla Elementary motto is "We're not scared, we're prepared."  I don't know about the second part, but they got the first part right... she's not scared, at all.  And I am thankful.  I'm glad she's not worried to death about this test.  I'm glad she's not losing sleep or appetite from stressing.  She will do her best - because she promised me she would - and that's good enough for me.  She says she's going to blow it out!  I believe her. 

For those of you who are wondering... she is having French Toast tomorrow... because that's what she wants.  =)

On another note... we made COOKIES last night!  Not just any cookies.... Fudge Turtle Cookies...  The original recipe for the dough didn't do like I wanted it to.  So, I looked up another chocolate cookie dough recipe and went at it.  I made up the chocolate dough, rolled it into balls, dipped the balls in pecans, and baked them.  When then came out of the oven, I unwrapped some little Rolos... (the individually wrapped ones in the bag), and I pressed them into the top so the chocolate and caramel would be all melty...  Sadly, I couldn't eat them.  I don't think they are on the Weight Watchers plan.  =)  However, Ava and Steven said they were good. 

Tomorrow is my second weigh-in for Weight Watchers.  Don't let that statement mislead you... I'm not going to the meetings.  This weigh-in will be conducted by me, on my mother's digital scale, at her house... with one person in attendance... me.  Well, Ava and Mama will be there, but they don't really count.  Hopefully, there will be some good results, but you'll read about it either way.  =) 

Bad Weekend... But I'm Pulling Through

My weekend wasn't so great.  It started great, and ended great... but there was a not-so-great part in between.  It was cake-related, and something I don't completely want to get into, because I'm still upset about it, but let's just say.... I despise people who (A) don't use blinkers, and (B) cannot use their brakes until they are 2-1/2 feet in front of the road they wish to turn on.  Okay, 1, 2, 3... breathe.... 

However, let me just take a second to tell you that I LOVE Devis and Joey Burnam... seriously.  That is no joke.  =)

So, on the up side... I am starting to feel my clothes loosen up a little, so maybe this Weight Watchers thing might actually be working.  My second weigh-in is on Wednesday, so I'll let you know how that goes - whether you want me to or not!!  =)

Good thing about caking.... when I'm all focused on cakes... I forget to eat.  Seriously.  Maybe I should decorate cakes every day!  Sounds like a great plan to me!

Oh, and for anyone who is wondering... yes, I made the Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad.  Was it good?  No, not really.  It called for apple cider vinegar, and I think I should have left it out.  It was too... apple cider vinegary, I guess.  I couldn't taste much else.  Plus, it didn't have pickles - or eggs.  UNAMERICAN!!  My chicken salad will go back to the "Amber" way - chicken, eggs, pickles, mayo.  That's enough for me.  =)

Sunday afternoon, I got to make a pig birthday cake for one of my favorite people in the world... my other Mama, Cathy B!  I hope she enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed making it for her.  Happy Birthday, Cathy B.!  I love ya to the moon and back times infinity plus a million more... =)

Weight Watchers and First Birthdays...

So, for anyone that doesn't know... I'm on Weight Watchers.  I've been on it for a week and two days now.  The scale says I've lost 1.2 pounds.  I'm not sure how I feel about that because I want to lose it faster, even though that's probably not the healthy way.  My friend, Brooke (who has been a great help to me with my Weight Watchers trials and tribulations... What?  It's me.. of course I can have trials and tribulations after only 1 week and 2 days... geez...), pointed out that I am probably not drinking enough water.  She's right.  I hate water... it makes me gag.  So, I went to the grocery store and found some Crystal Light thingys that you put in water to make it taste better.  I got the Wild Strawberry Energy, and they are great!  =)

I was a little depressed after only seeing 1.2 pounds lost when I've been trying so hard, but hopefully, since I have made a new VOW to drink more water - I will see more pounds lost in the days to come... =) 

And it doesn't hurt my feelings at ALL that Ava said to me this morning, totally unprompted.. we weren't even talking about dieting or weight loss or anything... "You know... you think you're fat, but you're really not.  You need to stay just like that.  You're perfect just like you are."  I almost cried.  Then, she said, "But don't get any fatter."  Yeah, you gotta love her.  I mean, she's delusional, because I could stand to lose a good 50 pounds, but hey, I'm her Mama, she loves me no matter what... apparently, unless I get fatter.  =)

Oh, and did I mention that I get to make a cupcake-themed first birthday cake for this little sweet pea this weekend....

Well, I do... and I can't wait!!    Until next time, Alivia Grace says... "We'll see ya..."!!

To Blog or Not to Blog...

Well, I've finally decided to blog.  I know, I know... I'm only about a year behind everyone else... or more.    That's how it usually is with me.  I'm resistant to change, what can I say?  I'm working on that though.

I've resisted blogging, because I don't really know that I have anything to say... I guess we'll just have to see where this takes us and hope for the best.

A Few Notes About Me:

First and foremost, I'm a Mama.  I have three beautiful daughters... one by birth, and two by love. 

Sarah, my oldest, is 14.  She's in the 9th grade and a typical teenager.  She texts faster than I can think.  She is beautiful inside and out.  She also has a sarcastic wit, which I love about her.  She reminds me of someone... oh yeah... ME!  Sarah is in the ROTC program at school.  She just went to a national competition in Washington, D.C. with the ROTC Drill Team. 

Ali is my middle child.  She's 11, and in the 6th grade.  Ali is the compassionate child.  She seems to "feel" more... when you hurt, she hurts.  She loves animals, and I think she'd make a wonderful vet, but that's up to her.  =)  She plays the flute in the band at school, and she is very good.  And no, I'm not just saying that... she really is!  Ali is a big Daddy's Girl! 

Ava is the baby.  She's 7, going on 30!  She has her own little attitude, her own ideas, and her own way of doing things.  Oh, and did I mention she also has her own time.. Ava Time... and she stays on Ava Time.  If you ever say, "Come on, Ava", or "Let's go, Ava", her response will always be the same... "Hold on".  I am perpetually "holding on"...  She can be mean as a snake... but she has such a sweet little spirit.

My boyfriend, Steven, is currently in nursing school.  He's taking classes in everyting I stink at... science, math, you know... the unimportant things... LOL! 

I collect cookbooks and cookie jars!

I am a legal assistant by day, and baker by night.  I have worked with Russell Gillis for 16 years... August 19th will be 17. 

I get off work, go pick Ava up from Precious Possessions, which is where she stays after school (best daycare ever!), and we go home... and then the fun begins...

I bake.  A lot.  And I love it.  I have an obsession with it, actually.  I have a little business called Austin Avenue Bakery where I bake by special order.  Cupcakes, cookies, dessert cakes, custom cakes... and whatever anyone wants!

I guess that's enough for now, so I'll leave you with this...

*** This is my disclaimer:  I say what's on my mind.  Oh, and I ramble... a lot.  Consider yourself warned.  =)